The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Intro Tab

BEGINNING NOTES:
A few things before you start,
 
I think it's best to tune your guitar up to F# rather than put a capo on the 2nd fret in standard since that's
the way Johnny plays it and in my experience, you get a better, more accurate sound and tone.
 
I've included some live details from the very early 1983 performances in here, I'll note them as they
appear.
 
I've used some live performance and a demo along with my own experimentation to compile this tab.
 
Credit to:
The Smiths live at the Hacienda, February 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiCrKYd2nMU
The Smiths live at the Camden Electric Ballroom, May 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iirGdbCHZBI
The Smiths 1982 Decibel Studios Demo tape https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCGyAkoeLUQ
 
 
Thank you for using my tab, I hope it is useful. Enjoy playing :)
If you want to learn more Smiths songs, check out the rest of my tabs!
 
 
KEY:
▲ = strum upward
▼ = strum downward
/ = slide up OR down depending on the proceeding fret number
 
 
[1983 LIVE INTRO & MAIN RIFF]
 
   ▼ ▲ ▲                       ▼ ▲ ▲
e|---3-3---------------------|---3-3-------------------|
B|---3-3-3-----3-------5-----|---3-3-3-----1-------3---|
G|---4-4---4-----0-------0---|---4-4---4-----0-------0-|
D|-5---------------2-------0-|-5---------------2-------|
A|-5---------3-------5-------|-5---------3-------5-----|
E|---------------------------|-------------------------|
 
   ▼ ▲ ▲                       ▼ ▲ ▲             ▼ ▼
e|---3-3---------------------|---3-3-------------0-0/0-|
B|---3-3-3-----3-------5-----|---3-3-3-----1-----1-1/3-|
G|---4-4---4-----0-------0---|---4-4---4-----0---2-2/4-|
D|-5---------------2-------0-|-5---------------2-3-3/5-|
A|-5---------3-------5-------|-5---------3-------------|
E|---------------------------|-------------------------|
 
Notes:
My interpretation here is not a catchall accurate one for each iteration of the song. The riff
order/progresion changes throughout live versions and demos so feel free to alternate/play to whichever
version you like.
 
 
[STUDIO VERSION INTRO & MAIN RIFF]
 
e|----------0----0-----0----|---------0---0-----5-|
B|----3------------3--------|---3-----------3-----|
G|------0------0-----0----0-|-----0-----0-----0---|   x1
D|--5-----5-----------------|-5-----5-------------|
A|--------------------------|---------------------|
E|--------------------------|---------------------|
 
e|-0-------0---0-------0-------0-----5-|
B|---3-------3---3-------3-------3-----|
G|-----0-----------0-------0-------0---|
D|-------5-----------5-------5---------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
 
Notes:
The D string notes need to be picked softly as they serve to fill out the blank space between the sharp
treble notes.
 
The picking pattern seems a little random sometimes thoughout the studio version so feel free to play around
a bit.
 
This riff is repeated throughout the whole song until it fades out.
 
 
[1983 VERSION OUTRO RIFF]
 
                            ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼
e|--------------12-----------------------------|
B|---------12----------12----13-13-13-11-11-11-|
G|------12----12----------12-12-12-12-10-10-10-|   x9
D|--12-------------12-------13-13-13-11-11-11--|
A|---------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
 
   ▼ ▲ ▲                   ▼
e|---3-3-------------------3-|
B|---3-3-3-----1-------3---3-|
G|---4-4---4-----0-------0-4-|   x1
D|-5---------------2-------5-|
A|-5---------3-------5-----5-|
E|---------------------------|
 
Notes:
Let the last chord ring out.
X